Due to the Holidays there will be No Parkday on 11/28
I would like to take this moment to offer my love and gratitude for you, my community. I am so thankful to share our form of village -lifestyle with each of you. With out being surrounded by like-minded families on fieldtrips, at my weekly parkdays or in this cyber-community, I would not have such a fulfilling life. Thank you. May each of you relish in the connections of your family and friends during this week of Thanks.
Other Fall Celebrations:To keep the emphasis away from the commercial aspects of the upcoming holidays, my family has been spending time discussing the history and purpose of Harvest Festivals from other cultures: Yam Festival-Nigeria & Ghana, Pongal Rice Festival- India, Sukkot-Hebrew, Moon Festival- China. I chose these above links for their kid-friendly explanations of these festivals of thanks. There are both recipes and crafts in the book We Gather Together as well as a great explanation to how our orbit around the sun affects our (growing) seasons.
Focus on Thanks On their own, in preparation for spending Thanksgiving with friends, my daughters have borrowed an idea from Valentines day for a new tradition. They have created an envelope for each person to be seated at the table and personalized them with photos and 
drawings. Through out our day together, each person will be invited to write on a heart shaped paper what they like about that person or are just grateful for and place it in someone’s envelope. The envelopes will get fuller and fuller until we reconvene for dessert. Ideally, everyone will take turns reading a few outloud. I can not wait!! A list of craft ideas for Thanksgiving.
Hanukkah starts this week too. Even though we are not Jewish, during Hanukkah, we reflect upon the story of Antiochus IV, in 167 BCE, razing the temple in Jerusalem and the miracle one day’s worth of oil lasting eight days. In a craft and storybook of Hanukkah we got from our library, we learned that a gift of a Samsa (hand-shaped) candle is given to children in Syria during Hanukkah to honor the fortitude and luck of the Jewish in relocating to countries like Syria and Morocco after the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492 by the Alhambra Decree.
To protect your cake pan, be sure to cover it with foil or parchment paper before pouring out the wax.
….I believe that the best time to share historical and cultural connections is while leisurely making theme-related crafts. While we make our Samsa candle, we will most probably be discussing why people can’t all get along and how that is different from why kings and presidents make people leave their lands. How would we have solved the problems of Antiochus or Isabella & Ferdinand? What is something positive about moving to a different land. What else was going on in Europe in 1492?
Museum Member Appreciation Days Nov 29, 30 & Dec 1 - Looking for a healthier alternative to Black Friday? If you have a membership to any of 16 area museums (Skirball, Kidspace, MOCA etc), you can take your family to any others for free. Plus save a bonus 20% off anything in their giftshops. Since LA is our classroom, part of our school budget goes to memberships to museums like Skirball and Natural History Museum. Reciprocal benefits like this add to the value.
Mark your Calendar for Dec 14,15, 20, 21, & 22. Just a note that, “Back to Bethlehem” 
in Chatsworth has returned, but to a new location. 
This is my family’s favorite living history event, because it takes place at nighttime. Come experience a living history with the birth of Jesus, Roman Centurions and the villagers of Bethlehem circa 0 AD, BC, CE or BCE. I’m hoping that St. Stephens Church that inherited this tradition will pull off as a phenomenal of an experience as the Church at Rocky Peak created. We’ve been going since 2006. 
We look forward to the homemade baked cookies and hot chocolate on the way out; Jane, the sweetest camel you will ever be near; the goat cheese on crackers and pomegranate seeds; the weaving crafts, apprenticing with word and brick workers; asking Mary if she like nursing the baby (Esme’s classic question 3 years ago) and the sighting of angels on the hill on each half hour.
There is a new Location 20121 Devonshire St, Chatsworth, CA. 
Also new, is the suggested donation of $2/person over 5 years of age (and a max of $10/family). It used to be free, but I have no problem supporting this experience. I will also say, we have never felt any pressure of any religious nature in the past. I wouldn’t feel comfortable if it felt “too preachy.” 7pm-9pm Sat & Sun December 14th and 15th and Fri, Sat & Sun December 20-22. We usually arrive about 6:30, 6:45 to get through the line sooner than later.
wonderful private tour of the largest conservation center for 
If you act quick enough, you can get tickets or private tours from 
In the wild, Gibbons do not travel in large numbers. A pair of parents rearing their children is the traditional “band” of Gibbons. Their young are nursed from 2- 3 years and live with their parents in a family unit similarly to us. The youngest baby at GCC is seen in the lap of the orange Gibbon pictured above. He 
wintering-over or diapause (a bit like hibernation). What do they 
But I can’t wait to make live-action Monarchs. 
November 23rd 10:30 am – No need to go to Pismo 
